Decarbonising heat and nature conservation

The energy transition can only succeed if all sectors are included in the transformation process. This includes the heating sector in particular, as it accounts for more than half of the final energy demand in Germany. While the electricity sector is currently the focus of the energy transition, the heating and cooling transitions in Germany have so far fallen short of expectations. The share of renewable energies in final energy consumption for heating and cooling has stagnated at less than 15 % for years. The heat transition can only succeed with a significant increase in this share. In order to prevent or minimise conflicts, the concerns of nature conservation and landscape have to be integrated into the eventual target system and the related instruments of the heat transition from the outset.

The aim of the project is to create an orientation framework and a knowledge base for integrating nature conservation concerns into the development of future heating and cooling supply sector. A central element here is the reduction and management of the land requirements that go hand in hand with the demand for renewable heat supply.

Methods

• Interdisciplinary and comprehensive identifying, including the nature conservation-oriented assessment, of possible paths to a climate-neutral heating and cooling sector in Germany
• Review of relevant energy policy fundamentals of heat supply
• Analysis of different scenarios for achieving a CO2-neutral heat supply
• Identification of possible fields of action and instrumental levers in the legal and funding frameworks
• Formulation of well-founded recommendations for a nature-friendly further development of the legal framework of the heat transition